The award categories include:•General Excellence Award given to businesses of any size based on excellent performance;

•Pioneer Award recognizes companies that have been leaders in their industry and in operation for at least 20 years;

•Horizon Award recognizes companies that have exhibited great potential for success. The award is presented to businesses in operation for five years or less;

•Community Improvement Award recognizes community based non-profits and volunteer organizations;

•Best Practice Award – Businesses, both large and small, are eligible for this award which recognizes the successful result of a specific campaign;

•Person of the Year – the purpose of this award is to identify, honor and reinforce the activities of exceptional caring citizens whose service or performance positively contributes to the quality of life in the Eastern Maumee Bay region.

The nominees will be honored at a banquet to be held at Sunrise Park and Banquet Center Wednesday, March 7. Chrys Peterson from WTOL News 11 will again be the Master of Ceremonies.

The program is open to all businesses located in an area encompassed by East Toledo on the west, Oregon on the north, Oak Harbor on the east and Gibsonburg on the south.

If you have a business you would like to nominate call chamber director Sarah Beavers at 419-693-5580 or e-mail her at director @embchamber.org.

Speed interviewingJob seekers looking to break into entry level health care careers can test their interviewing skills during the Entry Level Healthcare Speed Interview event to be held at The Source, 1301 Monroe Street on Friday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Part of the Get a Job Friday series, this event is structured after the popular process of “speed dating,” matching job candidates and potential employers in a timed interaction allowing both to connect with a greater number of opportunities in a shorter period of time.

In addition to employers, education providers who offer training in health-related fields will be on hand for job seekers interested in pursuing further education in a growing career sector.

Employers and job seekers must register in advance. Contact The Source at 419-213-JOBS (5627).

The right thingThe employees of Genoa Retirement Village donated $3,428 to The Genoa Area Food Pantry through their annual Hope for the Holidays fundraiser. They raised the money by hosting events such as raffles, food sales and collecting donations from staff and families during the month of December.

The Genoa Area Food Pantry is a non-profit charity that has served the Genoa Area for over 20 years.

The “Hope for the Holidays” fundraiser is a company-wide initiative in which each of the 67 Trilogy Health Services communities participated; each designating its own local charity as the recipient. The company as a whole was able to donate over $290,000 to local charities. In last year’s holiday fundraiser, the company raised nearly $240,000 companywide.

At the clubsThe Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce will host a series of luncheons entitled Simply Social for 2012.

The networking sessions will be held every second Wednesday of the month from 11:30 to 1:00 at Luckies Barn & Grill, 3310 Navarre in Oregon. The first event will be held Wednesday. Cost is $11.

For info call Sarah at 419-693-5580.

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Margaret Danzinger, deputy director of the Toledo-Lucas County Library System, will speak to members of the East Toledo Club about the library’s efforts to purchase a cyber-mobile, a motor home converted into a roving computer classroom, on Thursday, January 19, Noon at The Weber Block. The public is invited. For info, call Andrea at 419-691-7651.

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Inspire, an Oregon based network of business leaders, will host an open house Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at Bayside Boardwalk, 2759 Seaman.

Inspire was formed by a group of individuals who wanted to continue to grow while giving back to those in need. Larry Mortemore, president, says the philosophy is “The more we are able to give in life, the more we will be able to receive. Charity reaps success”.

The group has helped numerous charities including: Food For Thought, Tent City, Oregon Senior Center, Junior Achievement, and the United Way. “We have only just begun and we have been able to help so many. The formation of Inspire has been a life changing experience” Mortemore said.

Call Larry Mortemore at 419-902-2345.

Opportunity knocksMike Beam has joined Johnnie’s Electric and Heating Service as a senior installation technician.

Beam, a Woodville native and a graduate of Woodmore High School, was an aircraft technician in the US Air Force and a veteran of Desert Storm.

He worked as an installer at Johnnie’s Electric & Heating for five years prior to its 2001 closing and the last 10 years for a Port Clinton firm.

Just the fax: Fax items to 419-836-1319, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send to The Press, Box 169, Millbury, OH 43447.